Coleus plant named ‘ScolK1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Coleus  plant named ‘ScolK1’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; and light green-colored leaves with very dark purple-colored margins, veins and bases and light green-colored midveins and splashes.

Botanical designation: Coleus blumei.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ScolK1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant, botanically known as Coleus blumei, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ScolK1.

The new Coleus is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a selection of the Coleus blumei ‘Saber Mix’, not patented. The new Coleus was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a plant within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Ter Aar, The Netherlands in 2001. The selection of the new Coleus was based on its unique leaf coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in Ter Aar, The Netherlands since 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Coleus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ScolK1 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ScolK1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ScolK1’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Light green-colored leaves with very dark purple-colored         margins, veins and bases and light green-colored midveins and         splashes.

Plants of the new Coleus differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in leaf coloration.

Plants of the new Coleus can be compared to plants of the cultivar Kiwi Fern, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ter Aar, The Netherlands, plants of the new Coleus differed from plants of the cultivar Kiwi Fern in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Coleus and the cultivar Kiwi Fern differed         in leaf shape.     -   2. Plants of the new Coleus and the cultivar Kiwi Fern differed         in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Kiwi Fern had         brown-colored leaves with yellow-colored margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Coleus.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plant of ‘ScolK1’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘ScolK1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar ScolK1 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and fall in Encinitas, Calif., in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and under conditions which approximate commercial production cultural and environmental conditions. Plants were about six weeks from rooted cuttings and were grown in 13-cm containers. Plants were pinched one time. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 27° C., night temperatures averaged 19° C. and light levels averaged about 4,000 footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Coleus blumei cultivar ScolK1. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a selection     of the Coleus blumei ‘Saber Mix’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 7 days at 20° C.             Winter: About 9 days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 18 days at 20° C.             Winter: About 20 days at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded             plant habit. Vigorous growth habit; moderate to rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant diameter, single plant.—About 40 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about nine lateral             branches per plant.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 4 cm. Shape, in cross-section:             Squarish. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 145C or 187A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple. Length:             About 7.8 cm. Width: About 5.2 cm. Shape: Elliptic with             deeply incised rounded serrations. Apex: Acute to acuminate.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Deeply incised rounded serrations.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing             foliage, upper and lower surfaces: Darker than 187A with             random central splashes of 146A. Fully expanded foliage,             upper and lower surfaces: Ground color, 146A; towards the             base and at margins and veins, darker than 187A; midveins             and random small random splashes, 145A. Venation, upper and             lower surfaces: Similar to lamina. Petiole length: About             1.8 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2.5 mm. Petiole texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Petiole color, upper             and lower surfaces: 187A. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Coleus have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Coleus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Coleus have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from 4° C. to 32° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named ‘ScolK1’, as illustrated and described. 